Fatal punch: 2 lived in same Lancaster building

LANCASTER — Coos County prosecutors still don’t have much to say in the case of a 47-year-old Lancaster man accused of killing another man from that town late on New Year’s Eve afternoon.

Steven Dupont is charged with manslaughter and negligent homicide after authorities say he punched 57-year-old John Kenney in the face. Kenney fell to the floor and hit his head, according to authorities.

.Coos County Attorney John McCormick did acknowledge Tuesday that the apartment house at 4 Elm St. where the incident took place was Dupont’s residence.

Lancaster Police Chief Bill Colborn Tuesday would add only that Dupont and Kenney lived in separate apartments in the same building. He referred all other questions to McCormick, who said New Hampshire State Police and the Lancaster Police Department are conducting the investigation...But McCormick continued to say little else about the case — including what the relationship was between Dupont and Kenney.

McCormick requested, and a judge granted, the sealing of court records in the case. That remained in effect Tuesday...Dupont, meanwhile, who has a history of violent incidents, is being held on $100,000 bail at the Coos County jail in West Stewartstown.

He is scheduled Monday for a probable cause hearing in Lancaster District Court. Defense attorneys, however, frequently waive such hearings, particularly in felony cases, which, in New Hampshire, are not heard in district court. Felony cases are usually presented to county grand juries for possible indictment in superior court...The court documents that are available for Dupont show he has a record of convictions for simple assault, second-degree assault and drunken driving.